DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's basketball team has released its 2024-25 schedule. The Nighthawks will begin the new campaign with six consecutive home games at Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center.

Head coach Buffie Burson is looking to lead her team back to the NCAA Tournament after missing the big dance for the first time in six seasons in 2023-24. 

Burson and the Nighthawks begin their path to Evansville, Ind. on Friday Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. with their home opener against Emmanuel. Less than 24 hours later, UNG will host historic rival Young Harris as the pair of games are part of this year's Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge. 

On Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16, the Nighthawks will host the annual UNG Nighthawk Classic presented by Bryan Properties. UNG takes on Livingstone in Friday's matchup, followed by a showdown with Nova Southeastern who ranked No. 23 in the nation in the final Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) coaches poll a season ago.

The Peach Belt Conference season begins on the road for Burson and company this year with a Dec. 7 date in Morrow, Ga. against Clayton State. Tip off in the conference opener is set for 1:30 p.m.

Nine days later, UNG will hit the road to challenge last season's WBCA No. 20 Catawba. A year ago, Catawba went 23-5 and was the top seed and host of the Southeast Regional Tournament. In last season's matchup, the then No. 3 ranked Indians were welcomed to Dahlonega with a 72-57 drubbing by UNG. 

The Nighthawks' last blockbuster non-conference matchup takes place on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Dahlonega as the Eagles of Carson-Newman make the trip to face UNG. Last season, Carson-Newman was the second seed in the Southeast Regional and made a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. 

UNG's conference home opener comes in the new year on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. against Flagler. 

On Jan. 15, the Nighthawks will go toe-to-toe with the Lander Bearcats. That game against the 2020 and 2021 PBC Champions is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip from Lynn Cottrell Arena.

Just one week later, UNG will get its shot to take down the reigning PBC and Southeast Regional Champions in Georgia Southwestern. The Hurricanes went 29-3 last year and ended their season in the Elite Eight, losing to eventual National Champion Minnesota State by just five points. However, GSW is under the direction of a new leader this year as Missy Tiber was hired as the new head coach to take over for Hana Haden who was announced as the new coach at Georgia Southern. 

UNG ends the month of January with a pair of home games against Augusta and USC Aiken on Jan. 25 and 29 respectively. 

The month of February may prove to be a good test before the postseason as the Nighthawks will head on the road five times with only three home games in the stretch. UNG will leave town to face Flagler (Feb. 1), Columbus State (Feb. 8), Lander (Feb. 12), Augusta (Feb. 22) and USC Aiken (Feb. 26). The home games include Georgia College (Feb. 5) and USC Beaufort (Feb. 15) before a rematch with GSW on Feb. 19. 

The regular season concludes on Saturday, Mar. 1 with a 1:30 p.m. game against the Lakers of Clayton State. 

The Nighthawks will then look to begin another run in the PBC Tournament which begins on Wednesday, Mar. 5 and ends Sunday, Mar. 9.